Improvement in bending lumber for coffins



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. W. DRAKE.

Bending Lumber for Coffins.

PatentedMan 25,1879.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. W.DRAKE.

Bending Lumber for Coffins.

No. 213,636. Patented Mar. 25,1879.

NJETERS. PNOTO-LITHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON. D O

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

L'EYVIS W. DRAKE, OF HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BENDING LUMBER FOR COFFINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 213,636, dated March 25, 1879; application filed November 9, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS W. DRAKE, of Hazleton, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bending Lumber for Coffins; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a I part of this specification.

This inventionrelates to an improved method of bending lumber for the sides of coffins; and it consists, essentially, in the construction of a frame for holding the lumber after being steamed or boiled, as I shall now proceed more fully to describe with reference to the draw ings hereto annexed, in which-- Figure 1 is a side view of the frame or form holding six pieces of lumber for coffin sides. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan. Fig. 4. is a longitudinal section through the line 00 m, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan View, as it appears before the upper or last piece of lumber is placed in position. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the cast-iron head, detached. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the frame or form. Fig. 8 is. a plan view of a coffin constructed with sides bent after my improved method; and Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, A represents the head or end piece of my improved frame or form. This is a casting, consisting of side pieces a a, having legs or extensions b b, the lower ends of which are bent inwardly against each other, thus forming clamps 0 c, which embrace the ends of the side pieces B B of the frame, to which they are secured by bolts or in any other suitable way.

Side pieces B B are connected by braces O G, which hold them rigidly in position. Their upper sides are shaped to the curve or form which the lumber for coffin sides is desired to have, and they are provided on top with cross-pieces D D, which form the bed for the slabs of lumber. Those of the cross-pieces D which are nearest the foot end of the frame are made to slant to one side, as represented at d, in Figs. 2 and 7 of the drawings. The object of this is to impart a slant to the finished coffin side, which causes the cofiin to be wider at the top than at the bottomsay, from one and a half to three inches. This, it will be seen, is effected by the peculiarconstruction of the frame, without incurring the waste and expense of preparing the lumber particularl y for this purpose.

The inner side of the head or end piece A is provided with ribs or ledges e e, for the ends of the slabs of lumber to rest against, and to hold them in place while being bent.

In filling or packing the frame with sides, after steaming or boiling, I first insert the end of the first side under the first (lowest) rib. I then place on top of it a row of strips or separating-pieces, G G, to separate it from the next side, which said strips, for convenience in handling, are strung upon hoop-iron or wires H H, as represented in the drawings.

I continue in this manner packing the frame until full, (it may be made to hold six or more sides,) when, by application of pressure, I force the sides down to the shape of the form. To the sides of the form are secured metallic or wooden straps S S, having perforations s s at or near the top, through which are inserted metallic rods It R, for holding the sides securely in position on the form.

Blocks P P are, however, preferably interposed, in order to protect the topmost side from injury by the rods. The sides, thus packed, are now subjected to the usual seasoning process, (in hot room,) after which they are ready for use in the manufacture of coffins.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. The sides do not require to be kerfed, as is now usually practiced; nor do they have to be shaped or prepared in order to produce a coffin wider at the top than at the bottom; this owing to the peculiar arrangement of the bed-plate, as above described. The form, when packed, may be easily handled, and its general construction and arrangement are simple and inexpensive.

It will be understood that right-and-left-hand forms are to be used for right and-left-hand sides of coffins.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States-- 1. In a form for bending lumber for cofiin sides, the detachable head or end piece, A having side pieces a a, legs I) 11, forming clamps c c, and ribs or ledges e c, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and specified.

2. In a form for bendinglumbcr, the combination of the side pieces B B, connected by braces O 0, head. or end piece A, bed-pieces D D, straps S S, and holding'rods R R, all 

